The last passion blog of the semester– that’s hard to believe. For my final post, I thought I’d explore a place I’ve wanted to visit for years: Adelaide, South Australia, a city right on the coast. I would love to live there for at least a year after college or maybe even do a short study abroad program. When people think of visiting Australia, some of the first places that come to mind are Sydney, Melbourne, and probably the Gold Coast. Sydney and Melbourne are Australia’s two biggest cities, with amazing sites, beaches, and frankly some of the best entertainment scenes. They’re also amazingly crowded (which personally I don’t have a problem with) and if bustling cities are more your scene then definitely go for it because honestly, any city in Australia is worth the trip. But because I’m trying to convince you to visit Adelaide then I should probably advertise that it has a big city feel with a small city mentality, so what I’m saying is that it’s kind of the best of both worlds. Adelaide also has some of the most beautiful beaches, from crowded tourist areas to more secluded inlets, it’s really not difficult to find a place to spend the day. 

Speaking of beautiful beaches, Kangaroo Island is a definite must-see if you ever find yourself in South Australia. Though the island is about 200 kilometers from Adelaide– a forty-five-minute ferry ride and then an hour and a half drive up the coast a bit– it is still worth the visit. You might remember hearing about Kangaroo Island a little more than a year ago, at the beginning of 2020, when Australia was suffering from record-breaking wildfires. Well, the island was not spared that fate, and nearly half of the landscape became charred ground. The island is home to some of Australia’s most endangered wildlife and ninety-six percent of Flinders’ Chase National Park was burned, displacing thousands of animals. But… I’m happy to report that Kangaroo Island is making its way back and much of the island is green and flourishing. The island is not just a ferry-ride day trip: there is an abundant tourism industry, with lodging, local cuisines, wineries, and beaches. One of the best ways to explore Kangaroo island is just to drive through the countryside, either with a rented car from the mainland or right on the island.   

Adelaide has become Australia’s burgeoning food and drink scene. With restaurants, pubs, fine dining, and food trucks of countless cuisines, it’s honestly a foodie’s dream. One of Australia’s most famous dishes actually originated in South Australia: a pie floater, which sounds weird, and frankly looks weird, but it’s probably good (wouldn’t know, never had it, but everything I’ve read people seem to love it). A pie floater is a meat pie in a pea soup topped with tomato sauce. The Adelaide Central Market is one of Australia’s largest produce and food markets, with nearly a hundred vendors, a few cafes, and small restaurants under one roof, the options are truly endless. Not that I’m condoning underage drinking, but Adelaide has some of the best vineyards and wineries in all of Australia (South Australia is actually the country’s wine capital), so a short trip right outside the city is a must if only to see the beautiful countryside. 

Hopefully, I’ve convinced you to visit Adelaide, it’s sometimes an overlooked city, but really shouldn’t be, there’s just as much to offer there as any other place. Also, I forgot to mention, while in Australia you need to try vegemite on toast, an unmatched Australian delicacy.  

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I wasn’t sure where to write about this week. And while there are obviously a million different cities to choose from, I was feeling kind of stuck. So I improvised: I went to google maps, closed my eyes, and randomly chose a spot on the map. A few times I landed in the ocean, so I tried again, which promptly landed me in Lima, Peru. I’ve never been to Lima, but from what I’ve read so far, it’s already been added to my bucket list. Lima is located in the west of Peru right near the Pacific coast and definitely not lacking in any cultural, historical, or culinary experiences. If you like surfing (which I’ve never tried in my life), the waves are supposedly some of the best in the world (is this really true, I don’t know, I just read it on a travel site) and most of the best beaches are a bit farther south of the city in neighborhoods like Miraflores or Barranco (which also have great nightlife and places to stay).   

I love trying different cultural cuisines: the food is usually one of the best parts of any trip, so if you’re anything like me, then Lima will not disappoint in any aspect. The city is known for its vibrant culinary scene and has become the “unofficial gastronomical capital of South America,” so if that doesn’t say anything about their cuisine options then I don’t know what does. Ceviche is one of the most famous Peruvian dishes and was apparently perfected in Lima. Most people probably have a vague picture of what the dish entails, but if not I’ll explain: ceviche is essentially cubed pieces of seafood that have been marinated in lemon or lime juice, onions, and various other spices and then served with different vegetables and even some fruits. There isn’t one specific recipe for ceviche, it seems to be an eclectic mix of flavors that just taste good.  

The Plaza de Armas de Lima is the city’s main square. The architecture surrounding the plaza dates back to the 16th century and the bronze fountain, sitting in the center, has been sitting in the same spot since the 1650s. The plaza is also home to the Government Palace, which is the official workplace and residence of the Peruvian president. In and around the city center there are cafes, shopping, and beautiful places to eat or just walk around.  

Peru is obviously not lacking in historical sites: Machu Picchu is a little more than 1,000 kilometers east of Lima, and Caral, the oldest civilization in the Americas, is about 4 hours north up the coast. But right in the city, in the middle of the Miraflores suburb, is Huaca Pucllana: an ancient clay pyramid dating back to 500 CE. It was “built by members of the Lima culture, a Pre-Incan indigenous coastal civilization.”

When you get the chance, I hope that I’ve convinced you to visit Lima, it’s definitely a city that shouldn’t be overlooked. 

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Instead of focusing on one specific city this week, I thought I would focus on both Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Thailand, and some of the best places to visit within the two cities. For years I’ve wanted to visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Elephants are one of my favorite animals and I was planning to visit Chiang Mai last summer after my graduation, but I think we can all guess how that turned out. I don’t know a whole ton about Thai culture and cities, my uncle has lived in Bangkok for nearly ten years and loves it, but sadly I haven’t gotten the chance to go yet. Street food definitely seems to be one of the best parts of visiting any Thai city: it’s super cheap (a couple of dollars per meal) and there’s plenty of places to choose from, but it’s also important to be aware of what you’re eating because food poisoning isn’t fun. I found a great article here that gives some great tips on what street food stands are best to avoid. Thailand is one of the most budget-friendly countries in the world, even hotels and airbnbs are relatively inexpensive. Getting to the country is probably the most expensive part (as it normally is with any international trip), but once you get to a major city like Bangkok it’s easy and honestly really cheap to travel to other cities (less than $100), by plane or even train if you feel like being more adventurous.

I’ve dragged on a while, so here are a few of the best things to do in Thailand: 

Situated in the center of Bangkok, the Grand Palace is one of Thailand’s most famous attractions. While it might be somewhat touristy, there’s no reason not to visit. The palace is the former residence of the Royal family, but is now just used for ceremonial purposes, to host royal guests, and houses the offices of state officials. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, on the grounds of the palace, is considered the most sacred temple in Thailand. On the topic of temples– Thailand is not lacking in that aspect, in almost any city throughout the country (Chiang Mai especially) there are countless temples to visit and any one of them should definitely be at the top of the travel list.      

If you find yourself in Chiang Mai, or any area in northern Thailand, going to an elephant sanctuary is a must-do.  I know that elephant sanctuaries (or any animal sanctuary for that matter) can sometimes get a bad rap due to ethical concerns, which is one hundred percent valid. There are definitely plenty of places that treat their animals pretty badly, but there’s also plenty of places that are truly sanctuaries. So my suggestion is to do your research before deciding on one. Here is a link to a few places that have great reputations. 

Floating markets are a Thai classic. Vendors fill their boats with produce and float through the canals. Some of the best and most famous are in Bangkok: the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Amphawa Floating Market. 

This is a short list, but I hope it gave you some ideas when visiting. Now I want to go travel. 

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I’ve seen the movie Casablanca too many times to count, most of them in my middle and high school French classes, but it’s still definitely one of my favorites. Apparently, the Moroccan city has very few resemblances to the Hollywood movie, which makes sense, considering that it was filmed on a Warner Brothers lot in California. Despite this unfortunate realization, Casablanca is still a place I’ve always wanted to visit. As a French major, I have a lot of appreciation for different francophone architecture and various cultures, and because the city was occupied by the French in the early to mid-1900s, it has a decent amount of French influence (around 33 percent of Moroccans speak French). Sitting right on the coast, Casablanca has definitely become a business hub: fast-faced, modern, and geared toward locals, compared to Marrakech about three and a half hours south, which seems a bit more inclined to tourists, but still has a very traditional feel. Both cities are places I would love to visit eventually, but for the sake of the word limit, I will stick to Casablanca. Like I said earlier, Casablanca is very much a modern metropolis, more inclined to the locals, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer. The city has a blend of very modern and traditional Moroccan culture.      

One of Casablanca’s most famous sites, if not the most famous, is the Hassan II Mosque. Built directly on the coast overlooking the Atlantic, the mosque was built as a tribute to the former King of Morocco. It took seven years to build and was completed in 1986. Hassan II is actually the seventh largest mosque in the world, but has the tallest minaret, standing at 700 feet. There are tours available to visitors and if you aren’t Muslim and want to see the interior of the mosque, are required. 

Medinas are an important aspect of north African cities and in Casablanca, it’s no different. A medina is a historic walled area of the city (the word medina means city in modern Arabic), with narrow corridors and maze-like streets. The Casablanca medina has an incredible history and a bit of a world away from the French colonialism projected through the rest of the city; it definitely showcases a more local way of life.    

Because I’m such a huge fan of the movie, Casablanca, I could never leave Rick’s Café off this list. The restaurant was opened in 2004 and is inspired by the cafe in the movie. There’s even a piano.  

Casablanca definitely isn’t lacking in beautiful beaches and resort areas. La Corniche is an upscale beachfront district with countless restaurants, shopping, nightclubs, and has direct beach access. It’s more of the vacation destination side of Morocco, more touristy and less traditional, but sometimes that’s what makes it fun. 

If you ever find yourself in Casablanca, I’d recommend visiting a few of the places I suggested above, they won’t disappoint. Also — watch the movie, even if it does romanticize the city a bit.    

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https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/a-brief-history-of-casablancas-old-medina/ 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hassan-ii-mosque 

https://www.cityorcity.com/casablanca-or-marrakech/#:~:text=Casablanca%20is%20the%20business%20capital,atmosphere%20(despite%20some%20hassles). 

https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/the-top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-casablanca/ 

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Prague has been at the top of my bucket list to travel for years. The baroque architecture, historical landmarks and churches are absolutely beautiful and the relatively cheap airbnbs and food are just an added bonus. While there are definitely a million different things to do while visiting Prague, I thought that I would highlight some of the must-see attractions. An important thing to note is that even though the Czech Republic is part of the EU, they use their own currency called the Czech koruna. 

To start off, the first place that anyone visiting Prague should definitely explore is the city’s Old Towne Square. Originally built around the 12th century, the square was Prague’s first city marketplace. The Church of Saint Nicolas and The Church of Our Lady are situated within the square and different shopping and dining options are available throughout the year.    

Whenever I think of Prague I immediately picture the Charles Bridge. Construction of the bridge, which is lined with about thirty saint statues, was finished in the early fifteenth century and it stretches across the Vltava River, connecting the Old Towne and Lesser Town of the city. It is definitely a touristy spot, where you can buy souvenirs and take plenty of pictures, but the touristy aspect is for a reason; it is filled with history and beautiful views.  

The Prague Castle is a definite must-see and a very popular tourist attraction. It actually houses the office of the Czech president. Throughout its many, many renovations, the castle has stood in the same spot for over a thousand years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   

One of my favorite things to do when traveling around a new city or country is to go to the local farmers’ markets; luckily Prague doesn’t disappoint. The Naplavka Market is one of the more popular in the city. Food, flowers, drinks, and live music are just some of the options available at the market. The Jirak Farmers’ Market is just outside of the city center, accessible by the subway. In a more affluent area of the city, most of the produce and products available at the market are from local Czech farms.  

Prague is definitely not lacking in museums, some of the city’s more popular museums include the Franz Kafka museum, in honor of the Czech Republic’s most famous writers, the Museum of Communism, which doesn’t need much of an introduction but houses a lot of post-World War II items. The Jewish Museum in Prague also has one of the largest collections of Jewish artifacts in the world.   

If you’re ever looking for a more unique museum to sightsee, definitely check out this website, some of the places listed are sites I would never think of to visit. 

Old Towne Square, Charles Square and Prague Castle are the city’s most well-known and visited attractions for good reason, but it’s always important to go off the beaten path a bit too, to really get a chance to explore local aspects of the city. 

https://travel.usnews.com/Prague_Czech_Republic/Things_To_Do/ 

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This week I’m going to focus on Quebec City, a place that I fell in love with a few summers ago when I did a French immersion program at a local university. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life thus far. Last semester, I focused my passion blog on different aspects of French culture, and I talked a bit about some different experiences I had while in Quebec, so if you’re interested, definitely check out those two posts. My month in the city definitely didn’t allow me to see every aspect of it and although it’s relatively small compared to cities like Montreal, New York, or Philadelphia, there’s still plenty to go see and do.  Because this is a self-proclaimed travel blog, I thought I would share some of my favorite places, in case anyone gets the chance to visit. 

Vieux-Québec

Any Quebec travel article you read will probably say to visit the old city (Vieux-Québec)  and I would one hundred percent agree. Stone walls surround the entirety of Vieux-Quebec and date back to the 17th century; the architecture is reminiscent of an old European town (because it basically is). Something I learned while doing a bit of research was that the Old City has actually been a world heritage site since 1985. The Chateau Frontenac overlooks the St. Lawrence River and has the most amazing views. Countless little shops, restaurants, and artists’ boutiques line every street. Almost daily, after I finished my classes, my friends and I would go to a bakery called Paillard; it was one of my favorite places to eat in the city, the croissants, macarons, and flatbreads were insanely good. On the topic of food, there’s a farmer’s market in the Old Port, down the hill from Vieux-Quebec on the river. There are vendors and artisans selling produce, meat, jewelry, literally everything, it’s definitely a place to visit for a bite to eat or just to walk around.

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The Chateau is obviously one of the crown jewels of Quebec, but if you’re not looking to spend at least $400 per night, there are a plethora of smaller boutique hotels on almost every block. The Old City is definitely a prime location. 

Montmorency Falls

Montmorency Falls was one of my favorite day trips to take. The bus system is one of the main forms of transportation in Quebec, there are countless routes going all over the city and into different suburbs. Montmorency is a thirty to forty-minute ride from downtown and is so worth it. There’s also a park and gardens surrounding the falls. 

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Ile d’Orleans 

When visiting a new city, trying new foods is definitely a highlight for me and the food tour around Ile d’Orleans did not disappoint. The island is situated right in the middle of the river about three miles outside the city. There are a small chocolate factory and a few different cideries and wineries. Even a short drive around the island is an experience, it reminded me of a small farm village.    

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Bistro Ciel!

If there’s one restaurant that I recommend it would be Ciel. Situated on the top floor of Hôtel le Concorde, the best feature is that the entire restaurant rotates and gives 360-degree views of the city and the surrounding areas. The food is really good too I might add.  

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I can obviously talk about Quebec City for a lot more than 500 words, I didn’t even mention some of my favorite museums, restaurants, and other neighborhoods, but I hope my suggestions gave some insight on some different places to start exploring (when you can of course).

Travel has always been something I’ve loved. I’m a very wanderlusty person, always researching different places and sites to visit. I thought that this blog topic might help me get my thoughts down in writing and have a bit of a bucket list of places when I’m done. Every country obviously has its most popular attractions, and they’re popular for a reason, but my goal is to find some of the lesser-known areas in different places around the world. 

This week I’m going to start with Tuvalu, a tiny Polynesian nation almost halfway between Australia and Hawaii. It’s the third smallest country in the world, only behind Vatican City and Monaco. I first learned about Tuvalu a couple of years ago after watching a video by YesTheory on Youtube. From pictures the island looks absolutely beautiful, the small nation is made up of three islands and six atolls, which is basically a circular coral land formation with a large hole in the middle. The capital, Funafuti, is the main atoll, which is where the one-strip international airport is. The Funafuti atoll is made up of a couple different islands, the biggest being Fongafale.    

https://www.britannica.com/place/Funafuti-Atoll

Compared to other Pacific island nations, Tuvalu’s tourism industry is practically nonexistent. For lodging there are a few B&B’s, homestays, and a small government-funded resort, most, if not all, are located on Funafuti. There’s also a few restaurants situated throughout the island, including a small patisserie. Despite the lack of commercialized tourism, there is still countless things to do. Tuvalu is known for its reefs and marine life and on a far side of Funafuti is the Marine Conservation area. Covering about 33 square kilometers, “the marine environment of the conservation area includes reef, lagoon, channel and ocean; and is home to many species of fish, corals, algae and invertebrates” (timelesstuvalu.com). 

https://bigseventravel.com/tag/funafuti-conservation-area/

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One of the best ways to tour the island is by motorbike, which is the locals most popular form of transportation, they’re easily rentable and accessible to any visitors. One of the lodging areas, the Afelita Island seems like the coolest place to stay and according to Tuvalu’s tourism website, Afelita is only a ten-minute boat ride from Funafuti and “for only AUD$70.00 a day you can have the whole island to yourself and a chef who cooks authentic Tuvalu cuisine from freshly caught tuna and vegetables from the back garden.”

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Another way to explore Tuvalu is by diving, snorkeling, and boating around the reefs, there are different day tours for visitors to take advantage of. Almost every night, around sundown, Tuvaluans go to the empty airstrip and play soccer. The airstrip is used so infrequently by planes, that it’s mainly used as a public park.    

This is just a quick overview of what the island has to offer, there’s a rich history and culture that I feel like I barely mentioned. Tuvalu is definitely not a typical resort island, while there are plenty of areas for visitors to explore, it’s important to remember that the country is not geared towards tourism at all. Because of rising sea levels, Tuvalu could be virtually submerged by the end of the century, so it’s a place to visit now more than later.

For my last blog of the semester, I thought that I would talk a bit about what I am hoping to do with my future degree in French: so basically y’all are going to hear about all my hopes and dreams. I’ve probably said this multiple times, but at this point, I am still working my way towards fluency. You would think that after studying the language for almost ten years I would have it down by now, but I feel like I’ve just repeated stuff over and over and my learning just kind of goes in circles. That’s not to say I don’t know what I’m doing, I can hold a conversation well-enough, as long as the person isn’t talking at normal French-person speed. Which is why during the entirety of junior year my goal is to do a full year abroad in France at a French university, not necessarily a program affiliated with Penn State. One of the main reasons I want to do this is because I want to have the chance to really immerse and force myself to learn the language and be a French student, not just an American student in France. For me, studying abroad has never been an “if,” but “when.”

Right now I am planning on double majoring in journalism, with a minor in political science, but I tend to be a very indecisive person, so honestly, that might flip. Working as a journalist or editor for a magazine has been an aspiration of mine since I was thirteen or fourteen. If in the future I’m able to work at a French magazine, that would truly be my dream job. I’ve also always thought it would be the coolest thing to work at the American embassy in France. Doing what? I’m not really sure yet, maybe some foreign service officer, but I know that a degree in political science will help. 

If I’m being honest one of the main reasons I’m majoring in French is so I can live there in the future, of course, to help with jobs, but I really just want to live in Paris or Nice or Bordeaux, frankly I have no preference. Just get me brie cheese and croissants and I’m set for life.

Listening to music is usually an everyday thing for me. I don’t really have a favorite artist, I just listen to different albums and songs repeatedly whenever I find something that I like. I have been a fan of Taylor Swift since I was like eight though (fun fact- she actually went to my middle school). For some reason I always listen to slower songs, no matter my mood, ironically sometimes they hype me up. I do listen to mostly pop and country (controversial I know) and of course, because I have to relate this to France somehow, I sometimes listen to French pop. 

I am definitely not an expert on French music, frankly, I’ve probably only listened to some of the most popular artists, but they’re popular for a reason right. So I thought I would give a shortlist of some of my favorite songs and artists that I’ve come across. I know that you all probably won’t be able to understand 99% of what the lyrics are saying, honestly I usually don’t understand everything either. But the music is super catchy, so definitely look them up if you want. 

1. First up is Stromae. He’s a Belgian singer and probably one of the most famous French pop artists. His song “Papaoutai,” which means “dad where are you” is super depressing, but really good. Not going to lie, his music videos are really weird, but the songs are always good.

some other songs – carmen, alors on danse, tous les mêmes    

1. A group I recently just found is Vitaa et Slimane, I’m not sure if they’re a couple or just a duo, but either way, they’re insanely talented. One of their songs “Avant toi” which means “before you” definitely has parts that are easier to understand. 

some other songs – ça ira, ça va ça vient

1. Louane is also one of my favorite French artists. I used to listen to her song “on était beau” (we were beautiful) all the time sophomore year. 

some other songs – donne-moi ton coeur, jeune, pleure 

1.  Angèle is another Belgian singer who actually just released a song called “Fever” with Dua Lipa.  

some other songs – oui ou non, balance ton quoi, tout oublier

I was scrolling through Buzzfeed yesterday when I came across an article about things in Paris that the American writer wished were more popular in the US. I’ll link it here if you want to read it. One of the things that stuck out to me was the abundance of pop-up flea markets in Paris. As a kid, I always hated going to vintage or thrift shops, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve come to appreciate them: there are so many cool and random things you can find. Whenever I travel to a new place I always look up the local thrift shops and flea markets because I think it’s so fun to find different items from the place I’m visiting. When real travel is possible again I would highly recommend doing this on your next trip. 

“Les puces” is the word for fleas in French, which are obviously very gross, but “marché aux puces” is one of the words for flea markets, another term is “les brocantes.” “Puce” can also be a term of affection ironically. The history of flea markets actually go back a couple hundred years when the poor would go rummaging through trash to find valuable things to sell; a gross thought, but I think that’s why they’re called flea markets (that might already be common knowledge, I’m not sure). While there are sometimes random little pop-ups, throughout the many arrondissements of Paris, a lot of the flea markets are held on a regular basis and are pretty well-known. So I thought I’d give a short guide to some of the most popular if you’re ever in Paris and want to be more like a local:  

1. Marché aux Puces de St Ouen (the St Ouen flea market) near the 18th arrondissement. It has over 2500 different vendors and is one of the largest in the world. 
2. Brocante de la Place d’Aligre is held in the Faubourg St Antoine neighborhood in the 12th arrondissement. It’s a smaller market with around 40 vendors. 
3. Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves in the 14th arrondissement has a few hundred vendors and is one of the more popular flea markets in Paris. 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/navigating-paris-best-flea-markets-1618849